in the carquinez woods-第14部分

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interpretation　of　his　absence　from　the　wood　that　night　was　simple
madness？　　What　if　he　should　returnif　he　had　already　returned？
She　rose　to　her　feet；　whitening　yet　joyful　with　the　thought。　　She
could　return　at　once；　what　was　the　girl　to　her　now？　　Yet　there
was　time　to　satisfy　herself　if　he　were　at　HER　house。　　She　had
been　told　where　it　was；　she　could　find　it　in　the　dark；　an　open
door　or　window　would　betray　some　sign　or　sound　of　the　occupants。
She　rose；　replaced　her　hat　over　her　eyes；　knotted　her　flaunting
scarf　around　her　throat；　groped　her　way　to　the　door；　and　glided
into　the　outer　darkness。


CHAPTER　VII


It　was　quite　dark　when　Mr。　Jack　Brace　stopped　before　Father
Wynn's　open　door。　　The　windows　were　also　invitingly　open　to　the
wayfarer；　as　were　the　pastoral　counsels　of　Father　Wynn；　delivered
to　some　favored　guest　within；　in　a　tone　of　voice　loud　enough　for
a　pulpit。　　Jack　Brace　paused。　　The　visitor　was　the　convalescent
sheriff；　Jim　Dunn；　who　had　publicly　commemorated　his　recovery　by
making　his　first　call　upon　the　father　of　his　inamorata。　　The
Reverend　Mr。　Wynn　had　been　expatiating　upon　the　unremitting　heat
of　a　possible　precursor　of　forest　fires；　and　exhibiting　some
catholic　knowledge　of　the　designs　of　a　Deity　in　that　regard；　and
what　should　be　the　policy　of　the　Legislature；　when　Mr。　Brace
concluded　to　enter。　　Mr。　Wynn　and　the　wounded　man；　who　occupied
an　arm…chair　by　the　window；　were　the　only　occupants　of　the　room。
But　in　spite　of　the　former's　ostentatious　greeting；　Brace　could
see　that　his　visit　was　inopportune　and　unwelcome。　　The　sheriff
nodded　a　quick；　impatient　recognition；　which；　had　it　not　been
accompanied　by　an　anathema　on　the　heat；　might　have　been　taken　as
a　personal　insult。　　Neither　spoke　of　Miss　Nellie；　although　it　was
patent　to　Brace　that　they　were　momentarily　expecting　her。　　All　of
which　went　far　to　strengthen　a　certain　wavering　purpose　in　his
mind。

〃Ah；　ha！　strong　language；　Mr。　Dunn；〃　said　Father　Wynn；　referring
to　the　sheriff's　adjuration；　〃but　'out　of　the　fullness　of　the
heart　the　mouth　speaketh。'　　Job；　sir；　cursed；　we　are　told；　and
even　expressed　himself　in　vigorous　Hebrew　regarding　his　birthday。
Ha；　ha！　　I'm　not　opposed　to　that。　　When　I　have　often　wrestled
with　the　spirit　I　confess　I　have　sometimes　said；　'Dn　you。'
Yes；　sir；　'Dn　you。'〃

There　was　something　so　unutterably　vile　in　the　reverend
gentleman's　utterance　and　emphasis　of　this　oath　that　the　two　men；
albeit　both　easy　and　facile　blasphemers；　felt　shocked；　as　the
purest　of　actresses　is　apt　to　overdo　the　rakishness　of　a　gay
Lothario；　Father　Wynn's　immaculate　conception　of　an　imprecation
was　something　terrible。　　But　he　added；　〃The　law　ought　to
interfere　with　the　reckless　use　of　camp…fires　in　the　woods　in
such　weather　by　packers　and　prospectors。〃

〃It　isn't　so　much　the　work　of　white　men；〃　broke　in　Brace；　〃as　it
is　of　Greasers；　Chinamen；　and　Diggers；　especially　Diggers。
There's　that　blasted　Low；　ranges　the　whole　Carquinez　Woods　as　if
they　were　his。　　I　reckon　he　ain't　particular　just　where　he　throws
his　matches。〃

〃But　he's　not　a　Digger；　he's　a　Cherokee；　and　only　a　half…breed　at
that；〃　interpolated　Wynn。　　〃Unless；〃　he　added；　with　the　artful
suggestion　of　the　betrayed　trust　of　a　too　credulous　Christian；
〃he　deceived　me　in　this　as　in　other　things。〃

In　what　other　things　Low　had　deceived　him　he　did　not　say；　but；　to
the　astonishment　of　both　men；　Dunn　growled　a　dissent　to　Brace's
proposition。　　Either　from　some　secret　irritation　with　that
possible　rival；　or　impatience　at　the　prolonged　absence　of　Nellie；
he　had　〃had　enough　of　that　sort　of　hog…wash　ladled　out　to　him　for
genuine　liquor。〃　　As　to　the　Carquinez　Woods；　he　＇Dunn＇　〃didn't
know　why　Low　hadn't　as　much　right　there　as　if　he'd　grabbed　it
under　a　preemption　law　and　didn't　live　there。〃　　With　this　hint　at
certain　speculations　of　Father　Wynn　in　public　lands　for　a
homestead；　he　added　that　〃If　they　＇Brace　and　Wynn＇　could　bring
him　along　any　older　American　settler　than　an　Indian；　they　might
rake　down　his　＇Dunn's＇　pile。〃　　Unprepared　for　this　turn　in　the
conversation；　Wynn　hastened　to　explain　that　he　did　not　refer　to
the　pure　aborigine；　whose　gradual　extinction　no　one　regretted
more　than　himself；　but　to　the　mongrel；　who　inherited　only　the
vices　of　civilization。　　〃There　should　be　a　law；　sir；　against　the
mingling　of　races。　　There　are　men；　sir；　who　violate　the　laws　of
the　Most　High　by　living　with　Indian　womensquaw　men；　sir；　as
they　are　called。〃

Dunn　rose　with　a　face　livid　with　weakness　and　passion。　　〃Who
dares　say　that？　　They　are　a　dd　sight　better　than　sneaking
Northern　Abolitionists；　who　married　their　daughters　to　buck
niggers　like〃　　But　a　spasm　of　pain　withheld　this　Parthian　shot
at　the　politics　of　his　two　companions；　and　he　sank　back
helplessly　in　his　chair。

An　awkward　silence　ensued。　　The　three　men　looked　at　each　other　in
embarrassment　and　confusion。　　Dunn　felt　that　he　had　given　way　to
a　gratuitous　passion；　Wynn　had　a　vague　presentiment　that　he　had
said　something　that　imperiled　his　daughter's　prospects；　and　Brace
was　divided　between　an　angry　retort　and　the　secret　purpose
already　alluded　to。

〃It's　all　the　blasted　heat；〃　said　Dunn；　with　a　forced　smile；
pushing　away　the　whisky　which　Wynn　had　ostentatiously　placed
before　him。

〃Of　course；〃　said　Wynn　hastily；　〃only　it's　a　pity　Nellie　ain't
here　to　give　you　her　smelling…salts。　　She　ought　to　be　back　now；〃
he　added；　no　longer　mindful　of　Brace's　presence；　〃the　coach　is
over…due　now；　though　I　reckon　the　heat　made　Yuba　Bill　take　it
easy　at　the　up　grade。〃

〃If　you　mean　the　coach　from　Indian　Spring；〃　said　Brace　quietly；
〃it's　in　already；　but　Miss　Nellie　didn't　come　on　it。〃

〃May　be　she　got　out　at　the　Crossing；〃　said　Wynn　cheerfully；　〃she
sometimes　does。〃

〃She　didn't　take　the　coach　at　Indian　Spring；〃　returned　Brace；
〃because　I　saw　it　leave；　and　passed　it　on　Buckskin　ten　minutes
ago；　coming　up　the　hills。〃

〃She's　stopped　over　at　Burnham's；〃　said　Wynn　reflectively。　　Then；
in　response　to　the　significant　silence　of　his　guests；　he　added；
in　a　tone　of　chagrin　which　his　forced　heartiness　could　not
disguise；　〃Well；　boys；　it's　a　disappointment　all　round；　but　we
must　take　the　lesson　as　it　comes。　　I'll　go　over　to　the　coach
office　and　see　if　she's　sent　any　word。　　Make　yourselves　at　home
until　I　return。〃

When　the　door　had　closed　behind　him；　Brace　arose　and　took　his　hat
as　if　to　go。　　With　his　hand　on　the　lock；　he　turned　to　his　rival；
who；　half　hidden　in　the　gathering　darkness；　still　seemed　unable
to　comprehend　his　ill…luck。

〃If　you're　waiting　for　that　bald…headed　fraud　to　come　back　with
the　truth　about　his　daughter；〃　said　Brace　coolly；　〃you'd　better
send　for　your　things　and　take　up　your　lodgings　here。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　said　Dunn　sternly。

〃I　mean　that　she's　not　at　the　Burnhams'；　I　mean　that　he　either
does　or　does　not　know　WHERE　she　is；　and　that　in　either　case　he　is
not　likely　to　give　you　information。　　But　I　can。〃

〃You　can？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then；　where　is　she？〃

〃In　the　Carquinez　Woods；　in　the　arms　of　the　man　you　were　just
defendingLow；　the　half…breed。〃

The　room　had　become　so　dark　that　from　the　road　nothing　could　be
distinguished。　　Only　the　momentary　sound　of　struggling　feet　was
heard。

〃Sit　down；〃　said　Brace's　voice；　〃and　don't　be　a　fool。　　You're　too
weak；　and　it　ain't　a　fair　fight。　　Let　go　your　hold。　　I'm　not
lyingI　wish　to　God　I　was！〃

There　was　silence；　and　Brace　resumed；　〃We've　been　rivals；　I　know。
May　be　I　thought　my　chance　as　good　as　yours。　　If　what　I　say　ain't
truth；　we'll　stand　as　we　stood　before；　and　if　you're　on　the
shoot；　I'm　your　man　when　you　like；　where　you　like；　or　on　sight　if
you　choose。　　But　I　can't　bear　to　see　another　man　played　upon　as
I've　been　played　upongiven　dead　away　as　I've　been。　　It　ain't　on
the　square。

〃There；〃　he　continued；　after　a　pause；　〃that's　right；　now　steady。
Listen。　　A　week　ago　that　girl　went　down　just　like　this　to　Indian
Spring。　　It　was　given　out；　like　this；　that　she　went　to　the
Burnhams'。　　I　don't　mind　saying；　Dunn；　that　I　went　down　myself；
all　on　the　square；　thinking　I　might　get　a　show　to　talk　to　her；
just　as　YOU　might　have　done；　you　know；　if　you　had　my　chance。　　I
didn't　come　across　her　anywhere。　　But　two　men　that　I　met　thought
they　recognized　her　in　a　disguise　going　into　the　woods。　　Not
suspecting　anything；　I　went　after　her；　saw　her　at　a　distance　in
the　middle　of　the　woods　in　another　dress　that　I　can　swear　to；　and
was　just　coming　up　to　her　when　she　vanishedwent　like　a　squirrel
up　a　tree；　or　down　like　a　gopher　in　the　ground；　but　vanished。〃

〃Is　that　all？〃　said　Dunn's　voice。　　〃And　just　because　you　were　a
dd　fool；　or　had　taken　a　little　too　much　whisky；　you　thought〃

〃Steady。　　That's　just　what　I　said　to　myself；〃　interrupted　Brace
coolly；　〃particularly　when　I　saw　her　that　same　afternoon　in
another　dress；　saying　'Good…by'　to　the　Burnhams；　as　fresh　as　a
rose　and　as　cold　as　those　snow…peaks。　　Only　one　thingshe　had　a
ring　on　her　finger　she　never　wore　before；　and　didn't　expect　me　to
see。〃

〃What　if　she　did？　　She　might　have　bought　it。　　I　reckon　she　hasn't
to　consult　you；〃　broke　in　Dunn's　voice　sternly。

〃She　didn't　buy　it；〃　continued　Brace　quietly。　　〃Low　gave　that　Jew
trader　a　bearskin　in　exchange　for　it；　and　presented　it　to　her。　　I
found　that　out　two　days　afterwards。　　I　found　out　that　out　of　the
whole　afternoon　she　spent　less　than　an　hour　with　the　Burnhams。　　I
found　out　that　she　bought　a　duster　like　the　disguise　the　two　men
saw　her　in。　　I　found　the　yellow　dress　she　wore　that　day　hanging
up　in　Low's　cabinthe　place　where　I　saw　her　goTHE　RENDEZVOUS
WHERE　SHE　MEETS　HIM。　　Oh；　you're　listenin'；　are　you？　　Stop！　　SIT
DOWN！

〃I　discovered　it　by　accident；〃　continued　the　voice　of　Brace　when
all　was　again　quiet；　〃it　was　hidden　as　only　a　squirrel　or　an
Injin　can　hide　when　they　improve　upon　nature。　　When　I　was
satisfied　that　the　girl　had　been　in　the　woods；　I　was　determined
to　find　out　where　she　vanished；　and　went　there　again。
Prospecting　around；　I　picked　up　at　the　foot　of　one　of　the　biggest
trees　this　yer　old　memorandum…book；　with　grasses　and　herbs　stuck
in　it。　　I　remembered　that　I'd　heard　old　Wynn　say　that　Low；　like
the　dd　Digger　that　he　was；　collected　these　herbs；　only　he
pretended